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Just three hours - that's how long it takes Bill and Karen Fowler to escape when the urge comes over them.

Canadians appear ready to make some sacrifices to own their dream cottage, a new survey suggests.

The online survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Royal LePage Real Estate Services between April 5 and April 12 sampled 1,000 Canadians who own a recreational property or are looking to purchase a recreational property within the next five years.

The survey found 32% would cut discretionary spending to be a cottage owner, another 25% are willing to buy a fixerupper, 23% would buy land with a plan to build in the future and 22% are willing to purchase with friends or family.

Renting it out is also an option, with 10% of current owners saying they would like to do so. However, 83% of owners say they don't actually do it. Among intended buyers, 51% said they would rent out their property if the potential tenant was referred by someone they knew.

"Many Canadians aspire to own a recreational property because of the lifestyle benefit it provides but potential buyers must understand how they plan to finance their purchase to ensure they can afford it," said Phil Soper, chief executive of Royal LePage. "While renting out your property is an attractive option to improve affordability, the ability to do so profitably varies by region. Some areas have bylaws that restrict rental activity while other regions have strict noise regulations that might limit your ability to attract renters."

LePage also asked people what they were looking for in a cottage. Quiet was the No.1 goal, cited by 55% of respondents. Four-season use was second at 38%, followed by boating and fishing at 25%. "Recreational properties are an excellent way to bring families together and to help reduce the stress associated with city living," Mr. Soper says. "This type of real estate can also be a solid investment, particularly if you are interested in a cottage or cabin on the waterfront. Recreational property supply near Canada's urban centres is fixed while populations grow."

Average cottage prices

According to the Royal LePage 2012 Recreational Property Price Summary, these are the average price or price ranges by province, for a standard waterfront, land-access cottage with 1,000 square feet, three bedrooms, on a 100-foot lot:

Prince Edward Island: $120,000 to $200,000

Newfoundland: $132,000

New Brunswick: $110,000

Quebec: $230,000 to $1-million

Ontario: $140,000 to $1-million

Manitoba: $300,000

Saskatchewan: $290,000 to $450,000

Alberta: $300,000 to $650,000

British Columbia: $261,200 to $800,000 (Nova Scotia: n/a)

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